Geranium plant named ‘Oglger5041’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger5041’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and large dark and light pink bi-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×domesticum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘OGLGER5041’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×domesticum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Oglger5041’.

The new Regal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching Regal Geranium plants with large and attractive flowers.

The new Regal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in January, 2003 in Lompoc, Calif. of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 9984, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 8695, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Regal Geranium was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lompoc, Calif. in April, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Regal Geranium plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Connellsville, Pa. since July, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Regal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Regal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Oglger5041’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Oglger5041’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large dark and light pink bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in flower color.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×domesticum ‘Oglger609’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. application Ser. No. 12/386,341 now abandoned. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Regal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Oglger609’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Regal Geranium had larger leaves than         plants of ‘Oglger609’.     -   2. Plants of the new Regal Geranium had larger flowers than         plants of ‘Oglger609’.     -   3. Plants of the new Regal Geranium were more freely flowering         than plants of ‘Oglger609’.     -   4. Plants of the new Regal Geranium and ‘Oglger609’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Oglger609’ had light coral         orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Regal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Regal Geranium plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Oglger5041’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Oglger5041’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under conditions which closely approximate Regal Geranium commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 10° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were 21 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×domesticum ‘Oglger5041’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 9984, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 8695, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             soil temperatures of 23° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at soil             temperatures of 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to             four weeks at soil temperatures of 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to             five weeks at soil temperatures of 19.5° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Compact, upright to outwardly spreading             and mounding plant habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit; freely branching habit; about 16 primary lateral             branches develop per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Semi-circular; palmately lobed with five lobes.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate, reticulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescence primarily             along veins.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Nearly round flowers arranged in             hemispherical and somewhat loose umbels arising from apical             leaf axils; umbels displayed above and beyond the foliar             plane on strong peduncles; umbels upright and flowers face             upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about four to             five open flowers per umbel; about 26 umbels per plant at             one time.         -   Flowering season.—In California, flowering is continuous             during the spring and early summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 7.3 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Elliptical. Color: Close to 56A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five, occasionally             six, in a single whorl; two upper petals, two lateral             petals, and one or two lower petals. Length: Upper petals:             About 4.5 cm. Lateral petals: About 4.2 cm. Lower petal(s):             About 4.3 cm. Width: Upper petals: About 3.8 cm. Lateral             petals: About 2.7 cm. Lower petal(s): About 3 cm. Shape, all             petals: Obovate. Apex, all petals: Rounded. Base, all             petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals: Entire, sinuate.             Texture, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, all petals, upper             surface: Close to 51A. When opening, all petals, lower             surface: Close to 56C. Fully opened, upper petals, upper             surface: Towards the margins, close to 51A; towards the             center, close to 54B; central fan-shaped spot, close to 59A             to 59B; towards the base, close to 54C; at the base, close             to NN155D; venation, close to 59A to 59B; with development,             towards the apex fades to close to 55A and central area             fades to close to 62A to 62B. Fully opened, lateral and             lower petals, upper surface: Close to 51A; center and             towards the base, close to 54B to 54C; at the base, close to             NN155D; venation, similar to surface colors; with             development, towards the apex fades to close to 55A and             central area fades to close to 62A to 62B. Fully opened, all             petals, lower surface: Close to 56B to 56C; base, close to             NN155D; venation, close to NN155B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:             Narrowly elliptical to almost lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate;             apices reflexed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 4.7 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Angle: About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.3 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: About 30° to 55° from             peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About six. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to N79B. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 180B. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.4 cm.             Stigma shape: Five-parted, star-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to N79C. Style length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to             60D. Ovary color: Close to 191A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Regal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Regal     Geraniums. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Regal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about     35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Regal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger5041’ as illustrated and described. 